Memorial

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Statement from 1st Lt F. Fleming:
"I was element leader of the red flight, Platform squadron, when we were bounced from 7 o'clock level by one ME-109. My wingman, Lt Carlson, being high at 4:30 o'clock, I broke left as the E/A mushed past. I maintained a scissors with the E/A and told my wingman to bounce him at me. I pulled thru and fired at the E/A, then chandelled to the right and found both my wingman and the E/A afire with my wingman approximately 75 yards eastern of the E/A. My wingman bailed out and was fired upon by E/A while in his chute."

An investigation after the war by the American Graves Registration Command in 1948 found material evidence and eyewitness testimony linking a crash site near Buschhoven to Carlson’s plane. However, efforts to find his remains at the site were unsuccessful.

In March 2008, an independent German researcher contacted the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (now DPAA) with information regarding a plane crash near Buschhoven. He informed analysts that a local German resident had found parts of an aircraft and other material evidence consistent with a P-47 aircraft.

Between May 2008 and September 2009, JPAC historians conducted more interviews of potential eyewitnesses and research on the site of the crash. Based on information gathered during this work, JPAC investigators recommended excavation of the Buschhoven site for possible remains.

In October 2015, an independent organization, History Flight, Inc., conducted a preliminary investigation of the crash site. Through a partnership agreement with DPAA, History Flight conducted recovery efforts between 2 February 2016 and 17 May 2016, where they found material evidence, aircraft wreckage and possible human remains. The remains were accessioned to the DPAA laboratory for analysis.

Laboratory analysis and circumstantial evidence were used in the identification of his remains. The investigation resulted in a positive identification in January 2017

Lt Carlson was buried on 4 August 2017 at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Section 34, Site 542, in Annville, Pennsylvania.